That moment when you realize not everybody in TTRP circles knows much about tropes.

So, this discord I'm on for TTRPGs? Somebody posted a bunch of questions for thinking about your character.

So, a couple of them rolled a die and came up with this question: What stereotypical group role does your character play in the party? (The Mom, the Mess, the Comic Relief, etc. Optionally: What role would your character play in the “Five Man Band” structure?)

First part, pretty straight forward.

But then they got to the Five Man Band and one answered "guitar or bass" and the other answered "some sort of woodwind".

And I'm just staring at it going, "How...do you not know about the Five Man Band trope?"

In fairness. Had the question said TROPE, they might have realized they needed to look it up.

i am tangentially aware of TV Tropes and have no idea what the Five Man Band thing is

It's an anime thing, mostly.

The main one most people would understand is Voltron.

The Leader: Keith or Shiro (color coded red)
The Lancer: Lance (blue)
The Big Guy: Hunk (orange)
The Smart Guy: Pidge (green)
The Chick: Allura (usually pink, might be other colors)

It's a part of like... Geek media discussion culture that not everyone is part of

I think the five man band hasn't been around much in literal band terms in the last 20 years but also that's a gut feeling and I don't exactly have a finger on the pulse of what people are into these days.

i also just. don't like what TV tropes has done with media discussion so I tend to avoid it at all costs

Legit.

Oh, I get it. I just hadn't realized that there were people who hadn't heard the term, so much. Kinda caught me by surprise.

I mostly forget because I'm fandom old.